Marner Scores Playoff Hat Trick in Knights' 6-2 Win

ANAHEIM, Calif. Mitch Marner scored three goals and added an assist for his first career playoff hat trick as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6-2 on Friday night, taking a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference second-round series.

The Golden Knights built a 5-0 lead after two periods at Honda Center, with Shea Theodore scoring a goal and adding an assist, Brayden McNabb netting a shorthanded goal and Brett Howden adding an empty-netter late. Carter Hart stopped 30 of 32 shots for Vegas. Anaheim rookie Beckett Sennecke and Chris Kreider scored in the third period, but the Ducks could not overcome the early deficit.

Theodore opened the scoring 66 seconds into the game, beating Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal with help from Jack Eichel. McNabb made it 2-0 with a shorthanded goal during a Jack Eichel penalty, marking Vegas's third shorthanded tally of the playoffs. Marner capped the first period with a power-play goal on a rebound with five seconds left, prompting a goaltender change as Ville Husso replaced Dostal, who had allowed three goals on eight shots.

Marner extended the lead midway through the second period, tapping in a pass from Theodore. He completed his...